Racket.



PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

F. IMLAGH,

RAOKET. APPLICATION FILED 00119, 1906.

Wjeses 1M: NORRIS PETERS c0., wAsvmcroN. n. c.

UNITED STATES FRANCIS IMLAOH, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

RACKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application filed October 19 1906. Serial No. 339645.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANCIS IMLAGH, M. D., a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of England, have in vented certain new and useful Improve ments in Rackets, for which application has been made in Great Britain, No. 23,742, dated the 17th of November, .1905.

This invention relates to that type of racket or the like for playing tennis or other games, in which the tension of the strings or cords is adjusted from the handle by means of screws, whereby they can be tightened to the tension required to suit the taste of any individual player. It has been previously proposed to provide means for tightening the entire net of the racket by passing the cords over numerous pulleys at the sides and ends of the frame, or by passing the strings of the net through holes in a metallic bar which is capable of adjustment. I find, however, it is only really necessary to provide for some of the longitudinal strings to be tightened or loosened, and in a racket in which this has previously been done, the strings are passed through holes in a metallic bar preferably of crescent shape in cross section and curved longitudinally, which is capable of adjustment to tighten the strings. In such arrangement, however, I have found there is a danger of the strings getting cut by the holes even though pads or fenders be provided. My invention avoids this defect, and has a greater quickness of adjustment.

The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which shows a front elevation of a racket with my invention applied thereto.

In carrying the invention into effect, I provide a racket or the like in which the strings A are anchored and stretched in position in the hoop B in the usual manner with this exception, that some of the strings A at the handle end, are not held in the usual perforations, but pass round pulleys or rollers C mounted in a small frame D which is secured to the wedge E at the handle end of the hoop, or in other suitable position. The frame D is mounted on two pins F projecting from, and secured to, the wedge piece E at the handle end of the hoop, and the frame D fastened on to the pins F by nuts G. Consequently by tightening up'the nuts G, the strings A passing round the pulleys have their tension increased, or if the nut G be slackened the strings are loosened. By tightening up both nuts G all those strings that pass round pulleys will have their tension increased, or if the nut at one side only be tightened, the strings at that side would be tightened up more than those at the other. This tightening device is preferably applied to about siX of the center strings A of the racket, but it is obvious that it can be applied to more or less of the strings as desired. The pins F to which the frame is fastened, can be secured to a plate I-I seated in a depression in the wedge piece E, this plate being fastened in position by screws, or by a screwed pin or .bolt I with a nut J at the end. The nuts G and J can be turned by the spanner K.

I declare that what I claim is 1. The combination in a racket including a frame and cords, of a block secured at the handle end of the frame, a pair of threaded pins projecting from said block, a frame or bar having openings for the passage of said pins, and rounded cord guides carried by said frame or bar, and around which the intermediate cords of the racket are guided, the frame or bar being adjustable on said pins'to alter the strain on the cords substantially as described.

2. The combination in a racket including a frame and cords, of a block forming a permanent part of the frame and provided with a depression or recess in its inner face, a plate secured therein, a pair of threaded pins extending from said plate, a frame or bar having openings for the passage of the pins, pulleys carried by said frame or bar and around which the intermediate cords of the racket are guided, and nuts mounted on said pins and by which the frame or bar may be 'adjusted to alter the strain on the cords; substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 10th day of October 1906, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS IMLAOH.

I/Vitnesses G. O. DYMOND, H. OOULSON. 

